Watch this space – new stuff coming soon!

Selling snake oil

Really ‘Watch this space’ – but there’s nothing there! That’s the worst ever title for a blog post, the opposite of a call to action, even worse than the dreaded ‘Under construction’ sign that used to be a temporary holding page for websites, now largely redundant (according to my fellow blogger Claire at A Bright Clear Web). With the exception of Apple and maybe some film-makers and pop stars who can sell snake oil, the product is either available or not available, it’s a binary thing. A new bridge is either open for traffic or not, ditto a building or a road that is being built or repaired, it is either serving its intended purpose or its not.

Software is a bit different, it fits somewhere between a consumable and a physical product, it can be ‘used’, but at the same time it can be replicated, changed and adapted. Hence, software – and software services and websites – exist at a point in time, and can also exist simultaneously as multiple distinct versions. Remember the post about repurposing, well that is a downside of re-use, the need for you as a business owner or software manager to maintain all your digital real estate.

In technology projects we often refer to documents as work-in-progress, or the shorthand WiP, which is code for KEEP AWAY, there’s nothing for you here yet. So, not an inclusive or positive message that inspires the Customer – or anyone interested in the output – to hang around or come back, ever. Attention spans are short, and getting shorter, and if you can’t give your reader/user/customer what they expect you risk losing your hard-won lead to a competitor, or somewhere else. Ooh a cute kitten!

Coming Soon…

I will now ignore all the above good advice. Here is a list of things that you can expect in the coming weeks and months from the elves at the IT elementary School as we move house, extend, improve and generally up-cycle; exciting times. As Sherlock Holmes might say, ‘the game is afoot’! Here is a sneak preview:

First, meet the IT Chemist, it’s time that you were introduced to the brains of the team. From now on he will be describing IT elements, connecting concepts, and helping you to navigate around his world.

• This blog will be moving to a new location and domain hopefully you won’t notice as all the technical linky things will just work! (Ed. done, everything has been moved to its new home)
• There will be a subscriber newsletter coming soon; no money will change hands but I hope you can sign-up and be first to hear about new blogs and other good stuff.
• There will be a new table of IT elements home page and whizzy interactive navigation.
• The Glossary will be added-to and improved; I’m looking at ‘Top tips’ tools to help connect the dictionary with the content. Watch this space!
• Of course I will continue to add content, invite guest bloggers and even create new elements! A bit like the original Periodic Table, by mapping the domain and exploring the elements I have uncovered possible new topics such as; Architects/Architecture, Consultants, Social Media, Operations/DevOps, Security/Encryption, Networks, and Programming Languages etc.
• And finally, if it’s not too cheesy, I want to get to know you – my reader – a bit more.

The real Call to Action is for you to get involved, send me feedback, comments and suggestions. Thank you.

Tony

@ITelementary

(c) 2015 Antony Lawrence CBA Ltd.